Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Do we have any sources here that know --- or suspect so based on chatter - the next day that live steam is likely to be visible in the Chama yard? -

It's purely speculation on my part, but I'd expect to see locomotives under steam early next month as preparations are made for clearing the line prior to # 463 bringing the passenger cars over on the charter scheduled for May 20. It will be interesting to see which one emerges with a pilot plow. I would expect to see some shakedown runs prior to their actually tackling the drifts. Not much point in firing them up too early, though, and using up precious days of boiler time.

I get the impression that there may not be any drifts this year and that the sun may do all the work.

Does anyone know for sure?

According to Snotel this morning, there's still ap. 4' at the Cumbres trestle with ap. 17" of water content. That makes for some pretty dense snowpack. Usually, there are some deeper drifts at Windy Point. Unless there's some really warm weather and winds, Mother Nature may need a bit of help from a plow.

Edwin Frey wrote:According to Snotel this morning, there's still ap. 4' at the Cumbres trestle with ap. 17" of water content. That makes for some pretty dense snowpack. Usually, there are some deeper drifts at Windy Point. Unless there's some really warm weather and winds, Mother Nature may need a bit of help from a plow.

That sure is dense when you consider that normal average water content is about 10%, then factor in that the snow at Cumbres is considered "dry snow". There's been a heap of compressin' goin' on.